Shoot ‘Em Up

Long on style and attitude but short on logic and credibility, the over-the-top action thriller Shoot ‘Em Up begins with carrot-munching buttinski Smith (Clive Owen) attempting to rescue a very pregnant woman from professional hit man Hertz (Paul Giamatti) and a horde of hired guns. Her baby is born during the ensuing battle (a bravura sequence), but the woman is fatally wounded in the process. After managing to whisk the newborn away, Smith leaves the child with a lactating hooker (Monica Bellucci) and tries to find out why the mother was targeted for death. In a series of wildly implausible but absolutely exciting confrontations, Smith shoots his way out of ambushes laid for him by the increasingly frustrated Hertz. As it turns out, there is an explanation for all this carnage, even if it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Not that that matters: Shoot ‘Em Up writer-director Michael Davis is only interested in plot development to the extent that it moves the film forward to the next flamboyant, stunt-filled shootout. Still, the fact remains that this is one fast-paced and fun flick. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by writer-director Michael Davis, the 53-minute “making-of” documentary “Ballet of Bullets,” 22 minutes of Davis' original animatics, nine deleted/alternate scenes with optional commentary (8 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a decent popcorn flick.] (E. Hulse)